Endless-belt carrier



May 6, 1924.

F. E. SMITH ENDLESS BELT CARRIER 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 iled May 8 May 6 1924.

F. E. SMITH ENDLESS BELT CARRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 8, 1922 .ZNVENTUK W M w a W m May 6 1924.

F. E. SMITH ENDLESS BELT CARRIER m F q 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 May a, 1924. 1,493,288

F. E. SMITH ENDLESS BELT CARRIER Filed May 8, 1922 5 Sheets-SheetA JM ZM y day 6, 1924 F.EL SNHTP! ENDLESS BELT CARRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 8. 1922 Patented May 6, 1924.

FRANK E. SMITH, OF SCOTTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENDLESS-BELT cnnnrna.

PATENT @FFECE.

Application filed May 8,1922. Serial No. 559,241.

T all whom it m-aycomem:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. SMIT a citizen of the United States. residing at Scottdale, in the county of Vestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Endless-Belt Carriers, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to-the art of endless 19 belt carriers, and refers particularly to the construction of the roller supports for the carrying belt. 7

In this art, it is customary to support the carrying belt by a continuousseries of either single or multiple rollers having their axial centers arranged transversely across the carrying strand. In the case of single rollers, they are customarily horizontal, while some or all of the multiple rollers of each transverse series are usually arranged at varying inclinations at each side of the longitudinal center of the belt, to provide for dishing.

In my invention I have provided means for mounting the carrying rollers whereby they may be. erected to normal operative supportingposition underneath the'belt, or whereby one or. all of the rollers of each series may be lowered for removal, adjustment, or repair. Also, means for properly mounting and supporting the bearing mem here for the several cross shafts of the rollers, means tending to a minimum of friction, means for lubricating the several bearing members, and other features hereinafter more fully described.

The objects in view, in addition to those noted, are to provide a simple, eifective, and economical construction capable of giving the best results in continuous use and which may be lowered or erected without stoppage of the belt.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view showing three carrying rollers mounted'in their sev.

rying rollers with a corresponding arrangetnent of supports therefor;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the supporting brackets for the roller shaftbearings;

Fig. 5 is a view of the bracket in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of one of the valve controlled branch connections of the lubricating pipe Fig. 7 is a partial sectional View similar to HEldSUE:

Fig. 4 showing a modified construction of supporting bracket;

Fig. 8 is .a sectional detail view of one of the friction reducing bearings for the roll spindle; p

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view through the cross supporting shafts showing the roller supporting bracket in erected position thereon;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the bracket and roller in lowered position;

Fig. 11 is a perspective detail view of one of the detachable supporting brackets like that of Fig. 5, from the rear;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a furthermodification utilizing independent or individual brackets for each roller respectively, providing for individual adjustment of each roller;

Fig. 13 is a cross section on the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a partial plan view of Fig. 12. Referring toFig. 1, showing a series of rollers A, B and B arranged in conventional series for carrying a belt conveyor in trough shape, the several rollers being mounted on "a rock shaft 2 by outermost compound pins or rivets 4, as in Fig. 7.

The. rollers A and B are of wellknown construction, com rising an outer cylindrical or tubular she I 5 carried by the endmost flanges of hubs 6 upon shafts or spindles 7. These, in turn, are rotatably mounted by their terminals 8 in the ball or roller hearing casings 9 (Fig. 8) by means of rollin members, as balls 10, engaging inner an outer bushings 11, 12, of the spindle and cas ing respectively, as will be readily understood. Bushing ring 11 is preferably clamped tightly on the 'coniform terminal 8 of shaft 7 by a nut13 of its threaded extension 14, as shown, so that the shaft and its bushing are free to revolve in transmitting moving. support to the conveyor belt C. The interior of each inner casing 9 is sup,-

plied withlubricant, as grease,'by tubular conduit 15 connected with a mainsupply pipe 16, and the outermost bearing casings are lubricated directly by grease cups 17, as in Figs. 1 and 7.

The several hubs 3 are fixedly mounted in alinement on their supporting rock shaft 2, as stated, and shaft 2 is tiltinglymounted in end bearings 18, 18, carried by the outermost supporting members, as channels 19, of the supporting structure. A supporting cross member, which may be in the form of a shaft 20, is similarly mounted on the framework adjacent to each such shaft 2 on the same general level for each transverse roller, or set of rollers.

Each hub 8 has an extended supporting bracket arm 21 provided with a terminal open sided bearing 22, for supporting enagement on such member 20, when tht firackets are erected, as in Figs. 9 and 13'. In such position, with the belt' supported upon the rollers, and running in the direction indicated by the arrow. the brackets will normally press towards the cross member 20, but for positively. securing them inlowered position, I use a removable pin 23 inserted through registering holes in the bracket bearing and cross member.

The main lubricant supply pipes 16, usually one for each set of bearings, lie across the bearing brackets'and extend towards one side, where each is provided with a closing, terminal cap 24, and adapted for connection witha grease gun or the like. Each main pipe 16 is connected as at 25 by a suitable union coupling, with a semi-flexible tube 26 having an elastic loop 27 to facilitate com-- municating connection by conduit 15 with.

the bearing. 'A cock or valve 28 is preferably inserted in the branch line 26 at an suitable point, as shown, Fig. 7 for contro ling the circulation to one or both bearings. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the outermost hubs 3 are provided with upwardly extending brackets 29 having flanged attaching faces for bolting thereto the supplemental bearing brackets 30 carrying the outer bearing casings 9. Brackets 30 are bifurcated at their upper ends, providing a pair of side cheeks having inwardly open sockets 31 for reception of the lugs 32 extending from} opposite sides of the bear ing casings 9.

L g 32 are preferably knife-edges at their lower supporting portions for equal of brackets a and 12' bearing supportfor the end of the middle. i'oll spindle. To,this end, hlub 3 is extended upwardly integrally by extension 3 and is similarly bifurcated and'slotted at 31 for supporting the lugs 32 of the inner bearing casing 9 of the outer roller.

Mounted on the inner side of extension 3 is a supplemental bracket 33, similarly bifurcated and slotted, and provided with side cheek lugs 34 embracing the extension 3 and engaging lugs or bolt terminals 35. The bracket 33 extends downwardly along the inner face of extension 3 providing abutting engagement therewith, so as to firmly support the roller spindle hearing.

The construction as shown in F ig.'1 provides asimilar bearing "for each end of the roller spindle, of right and left hand form, so that the middle horizontal roller is 'thus carried at its proper level between the outer.

upwardly sloping rollers;

By this arrangement, the entire series of rollers may be tilted backwardly on shaft. 2 in receded position below the belt for adjustment, removal, or insertion of any individual roller orfits bearings without inmoving one of the brackets 33, the middle roller A may be withdrawn without removing the other bracket, first having disconnected the lubricant pipes as described.

If desired, one of the inner supporting bracket extensions may be made integral, as at 3, with oppositel extending bifurcated and slotted cheeks fbr supporting engagement with the 'roller bearing casings, as shown at the left side of Fig. 2. The other side, being separable as shown and as just described, provides for separability of either roller in lowered position of the brackets.

In Fig. 3 I show an arrangement comprising five rollers, and their supporting brackets, utilizing a combination of the several bearings above described, adapted to is pre erably hooke able bracket 33 to be at one side or the other of the integral hub bracket. It is desirable, however, that a removable bracket be pro-- rided for one end of each roller, so as to facilitate easy removala'nd adjustment.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 11 I show a somewhat modified construction of compound supporting bracket consisting of a bracket extension 3 upwardly beyond hub 3 upon which is secured the removable bracket by its back web 33 lying against thesloping face of main bracket 3. The latter is reinforced as at 49, and provided with a transverse bolt 35 by which side" lates 36, 36, are secured to the sloping back Web 37. The supplemental bracket 33 is slotted at the bottom for engagement of bolt 38, and its side cheeks 39, 39, are riveted to the side plates 36 as at 40. As an additional holding connection, the rear upper portions of side plates 36 are hookedover and secured by bolt 35 as indicated at'41.

A bearing boss or projection 42 extends rearwardly from bearing casing 9 against a wedge 43 adjustably inserted between the back and such boss whereby the bearing and the roll spindle are maintained outwardly in pro er operation osition. The wedge 43 over the top edge of back plate of bracket 33, as at 44, with sufficiently tight fit .to ensure against accidental removal. At the other side, the other hear ing casing 9 bears against the rear top of the bracket 3 by its boss 42 and each casin is supported by its side lugs 32 in the slotte opemn s 31 of the respective side cheeks.

In F1 7 I show a further modification in which t e hub 3 extends upwardly by a middle web member 3 to which are secured the outer side plates 39 by transverse bolts 35. Such side plates provide the embrac ing cheeks for the bearing casings and have the slotted openings 31 for reception and support of the lugs 32 thereof. The bearmg casings, thus supported, are also braced against endwise movement by their projections42 engaging against opposite sides of the upper portion of the web 3".

In Fig. 6 I show a detail of a continuous line pipe 16 for lubrication, havin branch pipe extensions 26. and an intervening cock on valve 28* with suitable cou lings. By

this means,'a lurality of bearings 9 may be lubricated rom asingle pipe and any particular pair of bearings may be cut out and the branch connections temporarily re-..

moved, if desired.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show a slightly modified construction utilizing individual sup.- portin brackets 45, 46 and 47 extendin u wa ly from their respective hubs 3, an o ri ht and left hand form to suit their respectlve locations. .Each hub is freel mounted on rock'shaft 2 for rotation or en wise movement, arid normally controlled by hearing collars 50, each having a tightening set screw, on shaft. 20. -By thisparrange ment, the whole series of rollers may be thrown back at once, or by removing the screws 23 from any particular pair of bearings 22, such pair of brackets 21 and their particular roller may be thrown back independently of the others, and one of the brackets maybe shifted laterally to remove the roller.

By either construction, I am enabled to adjust the roller or rollers upwardly towards and in contact with the belt, or downwardly away therefrom, -without stoppage ,or mterference. and supporting the several brackets ensures The manner of mounting rigidity and stabilitv of the roller structure when erected, and also facilitates the throwing of these elements backwardly and down .wardly,'with a minimum of friction and absence. of interference or interruption to the contlnued operation of the carrier.

It will be understood that the bearinr' for rock shaft '2 is fixedly spaced from its companion bearing 18 by a connectingbase plate 18 by which the bearings are fixedly secured in. such relation to the main framing struct-ure l9. 1 I

One further feature of advantage is in the constr ction of the rollers A or. B. These are preferably made 'of tubular sections of pipe and are turned down around the beveled or rounded edges of the flanges" of hubs 6, as indicated at 48. Such construction ensures concentric enga ement and continuous connection with the ubs, overcoming any tendency to loosening or disarrangement.

It will be understood thatthe invention may be variouslychanged or modifiedin detail construction, or otherwise, by the skilled mechanic in adapting it to various applications of use, but that all such are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

WhSat I claim is; 1. upporting mechanism for a carrying belt consisting of a rock shaft having. hearing supports extending u wardly therefrom 4:. In combination with a supporting framework, a transverse rock shaft, bearings therefor, brackets freely journalled on to the rock shaft extending upwardly therefrom and provided with supporting termi nals, and a belt carrying roller mounted therein.

5. In combination with a supporting framework,'a transverse rock shaft, bearings therefor, brackets freely journalled on to the rock shaft extending upwardly therefrom and provided with supporting terminals, shaft casings mounted in said terminals, and

a belt carrying roller having a shaft mounted in said casings.

6. In combination with a supporting framework, a transverse rock shaft, bearings therefor, brackets secured to the rock shaft extending upwardly therefrom and provided with supporting terminals, and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in pairs of said brackets at varying inclinations.

'7. In combination with a supporting framework and a superimposed carrier belt, a transverse rock shaft, brackets secured thereon having upwardly extending rollercarrying arms and forwardly extending bracing arms, and a belt supporting rollers carried in said brackets.

8. In combination with a rock shaft, a. bracket secured thereon having an upwardly extending bearing portion provided with bifurcated slotted arms.

:9. In combination with a rock shaft, a bracket secured thereon having an upwardly extending bearing portion provided with bifurcated slotted arms, and a separable supplemental bracket.

10. A combination bracket for belt carrying rollers consisting of a hub having a lateral bracing portion, an upwardly extending bearing bracket, and an attached oppositely disposed removable bearing bracket.

11. A combination bracket for belt carrying, rollers consisting of a hub having a lateral bracing portion, an upwardly extending bearing bracket, an attached oppositely disposed removable bearing bracket, and means for connecting and disconnecting said brackets.

12. In belt supporting construction, a shaft having flanged supporting hubs, and a tubular roller having crimped engagement at its ends inwardly around the outer edges of the hub flanges,-substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. 1

FRANK E. SliflTH. 

